Reproductive system Flashcards
What is the name given to a male gamete?
Spermatozoa
What is the name given to a female gamete?
Oocyte/ovum
What are the male gonads?
Testes
What are the female gonads?
Ovaries
Why type of cell is a gamete?
Haploid cell
How many chromosomes are found in a normal gamete?
23
What are the 2 regions of the pelvic cavity?
False/greater pelvis
True/lesser pelvis
What bones make up the pelvic inlet?
Sacrum
Ileum
Pubic bones
What bones make up the pelvic outlet?
Coccyx
Ischial tuberosities
Pubis symphysis
What type of tissue makes up the pelvic floor?
Skeletal muscle
What does the pelvic floor separate?
The pelvic cavity and the perineum
Where is the perineum found?
Inferior to the pelvic floor, between the proximal parts of the lower limbs
What are the 3 openings in the pelvic floor for?
The distal alimentary, reproductive and renal tracts to pass through
What type of tissue forms the pelvic roof?
Parietal peritoneum; thin serous membrane that secretes fluid
What is the parietal peritoneum?
The lining of the abdominal cavity, firmly attached to the walls of the abdomen. It drapes of the pelvic viscera
What are the 2 pouches of the parietal peritoneum?
Vesico-uterine pouch
Rectouterine pouch/ Pouch of Douglas
Where is the Vesico-uterine pouch found?
Between the bladder and uterus
Where is the Rectouterine pouch found?
Between the rectum and the uterus
What are the 3 orifices of the female perineum?
External urethral orifice
Vaginal orifice
Anus
What are the 3 layers of the uterus wall?
Perimetrium
Myometrium
Endometrium
What is the opening to the uterine/ fallopian tubes called?
Isthmus
What is the centre part of the fallopian tube called?
Ampulla
What is the widest end of the fallopian tube called?
Infundibulum
What are the finger-like projections at the end of the infundibulum called?
Fimbrae
What is the opening to the uterus known as?
Cervix
What is the most common position of the uterus?
Anteverted and anteflexed
What is meant anteverted?
The cervix is tipped anteriorly, relative to the axis of the vagina?
What is meant by anteflexed?
Uterus is tipped anteriorly, relative to the axis of the cervix?
Where do the ovaries develop?
On the posterior abdominal wall, before moving onto the lateral wall of the pelvis
What blood vessel supplies the ovaries?
Ovarian artery, from the posterior abdominal wall, branching from the abdominal aorta
What blood vessel supplies the uterus?
Uterine artery, branching from the internal iliac artery
What blood vessel supplies the vagina?
Vaginal artery, branching from the uterine artery
How is an unfertilised ovum expelled from the uterus?
By contractions of the myometrium
Where do the ovaries secrete the matured ovum to?
The peritoneal cavity
How is the ovum taken from the peritoneal cavity to the infundibulum?
The fimbrae gather the ovum into the uterine tubes
How is the ovum moved through the uterine tube?
By cilia
What is an ectopic pregnancy?
A pregnancy in which the ovum implants somewhere outside of the uterine cavity
What is the danger of an ectopic pregnancy?
Haemorrhage
What is the process of female sterilisation?
Tubal ligation
What occurs during tubal ligation?
Both uterine tubes are clipped, cut or cauterised, therefore blocking the lumen
What is the medical name given to the foreskin?
Prepuce
What carries both urine and sperm in the penis, to the external urethral orifice?
Urethra
Where do the testes develop?
The posterior wall of the abdominal cavity
Where do the testes sit after development and in adulthood?
Scrotum
Through what surface do the testes pass when they descend to the scrotum?
The anterior abdominal wall
What does descension of the testes through the anterior abdominal wall form?
Inguinal canals
What do the inguinal canals leave the abdominal wall at risk of?
Inguinal hernias
Where in the testes is sperm produced?
Seminiferous tubules
What temperature is maintained in the testes?
Around 1°C below core body temperature
What muscle helps with temperature control in the testes?
Dartos muscle
How does the dartos muscle control temperature?
Contraction of the dartos muscle leads to a decrease in scrotal surface area, so less heat loss. Relaxation of the dartos muscle leads to an increase in scrotal surface area, so more heat loss can occur
What collects the spermatozoa produced by the seminiferous tubules?
Rete testis
Where do the sperm pass after the rete testis for storage?
Epididymis
What tube carries sperm from the testes and is a continuation of the epididymis?
Vas deferens
What 3 components are contained in the spermatic cord?
Vas deferens
Testicular artery
Pampiniform plexus of veins
What blood vessel supplies the testes?
Testicular artery
What occurs during torsion of the testis?
The spermatic chord becomes twisted, disrupting blood supply to the testes, leading to severe pain and necrosis
What forms the spermatic cord?
Connective tissue
What carries urine from the kidneys to the bladder?
Ureter
What gland produces seminal fluid?
Seminal gland
What is the function of the seminal fluid?
It contains sugars to provide energy for sperm
At which duct do sperm from the vas deferens combine with seminal fluid?
Ejaculatory duct
Where does the semen pass after the ejaculatory duct?
Through the prostatic urethra, through the prostate gland
What occurs in the prostatic urethra?
Urine is drained from the bladder and semen is passed during ejaculation
Where does the semen travel from the prostatic urethra, during ejaculation?
Through the spongy urethra and into the build of the penis
What type of tissue make up the 3 columns of the penis?
Erectile tissue that contains many small spaces that can fill with blood
What are the 2 components of semen?
Seminal fluid and spermatozoa
What is the process of male sterilisation?
Vasectomy
What occurs during a vasectomy?
The vas deferens is transected and its lumen is sutured closed
